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Top 5 ways to make your condo look more expensive

Most buyers sink the majority of their funds into their condo purchase — leaving little left over for decor. Here are five ways to make your space look and feel more expensive.

Use a limited palette to make your space feel more expensive. (LIVING ETC. / SUPPLIED PHOTO)

By Lisa CanningSpecial to Yourhome.ca

Mon., July 12, 2010

When purchasing a condo, most buyers sink the majority of their funds into the space, leaving little left over for furniture and frivolity. Here are a few tips to make your space look and feel more expensive than it actually is.

NUMBER 1: WORK WITH WHITE

Using a limited colour palette is a tried and true stylist tip. Why will it make your space look more expensive? Limiting your colour choices to white significantly reduces your margin of error: no clashing colours, no questionable accent wall, or other such pitfalls that often contribute to a tacky looking space.

Moreover, a bonus of working with white is that it is fairly easy to find available products at every price point.

Lastly, limiting your colour palette forces your eye to focus on what is different, namely, textures. And I encourage you to use a variety of them. The mix of a fluffy rug with a lacquered coffee table against a suede sofa with a satin pillow (all in various shades of white) will invite people to sit, savour and suggest you paid a fortune for your decor -- when really you didn’t.

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NUMBER 2: MAKE LIKE A MAGPIE AND GO SHINY

Magpies are birds that like to pick up shiny objects and bring them home to their nests — and I enthusiastically support this behaviour. The same way I would accessorize an outfit with a lacquered bangle or luminous gemstone, a touch of sparkle or sheen in a room lends to a polished, finished look.

A high gloss ceramic vase, fantastic chandelier or mirrored sideboard will by its nature add a touch of luxury when paired with more subdued elements. But it is this pairing of glossy and matte surfaces that is essential — a room full of reflective surfaces can look gaudy rather than glam — so use restraint when inserting these pieces into your condo.

NUMBER 3: SAY NO TO THE SHOWROOM SET

When your entire condo looks like a big box store was teleported into your space, this is a problem. I am all for things coordinating — this is an important element of harmonious interior design — but when everything matches (i.e. your sideboard, dining table, bookshelf, and coffee table are all in an identical stain, with identical millwork details and cloned fixtures) insert synonyms for boring and blah.

While my personal taste is not averse to matching sofa and chair sets (although some designers have strong opinions on this matter) I do have a fervent objection to matching “hard goods”: armoires, dressers, sideboards, etc. In a small space like a condo, these large pieces take up a lot of room and take away from your ability to be original — and your ability to look expensive.

NUMBER 4: GO BIG ON ONE ITEM

When I worked on HGTV’s Marriage Under Construction (Season 1 had the extremely low budget of $30,000 to complete renovation and decor for an ENTIRE house) I learned an important trick: splurge on one item in each room.

Whatever your budget, allot a portion of it for a big-ticket item (which will have a different dollar value for everyone), or that special something you simply have been eyeing and coveting for your space. Compromise on other areas and/or save until you are ready.

NUMBER 5: REPRODUCTIONS CAN STRETCH YOUR BUDGET

There are iconic mid century modern furniture pieces that based on their scale (and gorgeous design!) work so well in condos. My favourites include Philippe Starck’s Ghost Chair, the Eames Plywood Chair, the Eames Eiffel Chair and Arne Jacobsen’s Swan Chair. You can purchase these pieces at retailers like Design Within Reach and their price tags reflect their quality of construction, material and design. Reproductions, made of lower grade materials and construction techniques, are available at many retailers, my favourites being most! and Morba in Toronto. And while they won’t have the same luxury feel, they do have the luxury look. Mix reproductions with the real deal as your budget allows.

Lisa is an interior decorator, stylist & blogger in Toronto and lover of all things condo. For more of her thoughts on condo design check out www.condosbycanning.com

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